Spout distributors



July 16, 1957 w. ENGLISH 2,799,378

sPoUT DISTRIBUTORS Filed March 2 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l `WEBER ENGLISHFl G mlm/TOR.v

ATTORNEY.

July 16, 1957 Uw. ENGLISH 2,799,378

sPouT DISTRIBUTORS Filed March 28, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 E 5o f) 'L 40 1I ,l FIG. 3 l ,f l' 67 5`9\ 67-fl a l l 54\ 57V FIG 5 5J L' '1 6 aa sa56 WEBER ENGLISH INVENTOR.

BY' ATTORNEY.

iinited States Pate SPOUT DISTRIBUTORS Weber English, mgm, oreg.Application March 28, 1955, SerialNo. 497,219

10 claims. (c1. 19a- 23) My invention relates to improvements in spoutdistributors, such as those used in grain elevating and storage plants,in which a movable spout is adapted to receive grain from an elevatormechanism and deliver it to any one of several storage bins by means ofsuitable pipes radiating outward and downward from a plurality ofoutlets on said distributor. Moreover, my invention is an improvement inthe type of distributors in which an articulated spout swings about apivotal point within a vertical plane so that its lower end may connectwith any one of several outlets, as determined by the operator.

It is among the disadvantages of distributors in current use that one ormore elbows are employed adjacent to the point at which the movablespout connects with the outlet spouts, which results in a slower ow ofgrain Q and occasional clogging of the passage. Moreover, the heightlost by the downward direction of such elbows must be compensated by anincreased over all height of the elevator mechanism. A furtherdisadvantage of present devices is that, from the operators remotestation, it is difficult to accurately position the distributor spout sothat theflow of grain will not be split between two adjacent outlets.

Among the objects of my improvement is the provision of a continuousstraight passage at the junction of the swinging spout with each of theoutlet spouts; a positive means of positioning the swinging spoutrelative to a selected outlet spout, so that grain iiowing through thedistributor cannot be delivered to two outlets simultaneously; and meansfor preventing operation of the attached elevator whenever the movablespout is not properly positioned with respect to the selected outletspout.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specication anddrawings.

Referring to the drawnigs:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the entire mechanism from the selectorslots and cam side thereof.

Fig. 2 is a detailed elevational view of the lower end of the swingingspout, showing .the cam and the slideable sleeve motivated by said cam.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the entire mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the swinging spout taken along the line4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows with the chain not beingshown.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a modified form of articulation for theswinging spout. v

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of articulation for theswinging spout.

Referring further to the drawings:

The frame of the distributor device includes a base member 10 shapedsubstantially as shown in Fig. 1 and frame members 11 and 12 directedupwardly and inwardly from the opposite extremes of base member 10 to ajunction in the proximity of axis shaft 13 which is mounted in andsupported by the junction of said frame members. From the junction ofsaid frame members 11 and 12 an attached bracket 14 and its counterpart14' are Fatented July 16, 1957 directed upwardly, forwardly and offsetinwardly to contact the sides of inlet spout 15 which they support. Asseen in Fig. l, base member 10 presents a straight base line, inwardlysloping ends and an arcuate upper boundary 10a having its center ofcurvature within the axis of shaft 13. Formed along the arcuate margin10a of base member 10 are a plurality of slots 16, 17, 1S, 19, 20, 21,22 and 23 which are directed radially outward from the axis shaft 13 asa center. The said slots are o f uniform width and depth and are spacedat a constant angular magnitude from each other. In shape and functionthe sections between said slots and the base member 10a approximate gearteeth. Parallel to the frame of members 11 and 12, bracket 14 and basemember 10 and disposed on the opposite side of the distributor deviceare counterparts 11', 12 and 14' and a base member 24 (Figs. l and 2),which is symmetrical with base member 10 except for the arcuate upperboundary thereof which is of slightly greater radius, taking the centerof axis shaft 13 as the center of curvature, then the Upper boundary ofsaid base member 10. Further, the base member 24 is not provided withslots. The frame side composed of frame members 11 and 12 and the sidecomposed of counterparts 11 and 12 are rigidly attached to each other bymeans of struts 25 and 25 and braces 26 and 26 positioned between theframe members 12 and 12.

At the extreme top of theV mechanism is an inlet spout 15 of rectangularcross section held in a vertical position by brackets 14 and 14'. Thesides of spout 15 are flat, excepting the lower end of the forward side27 which is of segmental cylindrical shape having its axis of curvaturecommon to the axis of ,shaft 13. A swinging spout 28 of substantiallythe same cross section as spout 15 is pivotally mounted on shaft 13 andhas its upper forward side formed into a segmental cylindrical section29 adapted to encompass and swing about the cylindrical surface 27 withshaft 13 as a center. Swinging spout 28 is of such length that its lowerend 3i) just clears a plurality of outlet spouts 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36and 37 secured between base members 10 and 24. Spouts 31, 32, 33, 34,35, 36 and 37 have their longitudinalvaxes directed radially withrespect to shaft 13 while their upper ends lie in an arc of uniformradius about shaft 13 as a center. The angular magnitude ofthe centerlines of spouts 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 and that of slots 16, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 is of the same value with respect to the axisof shaft 13 as a center.

Bearing blocks 38 and 38 rigidly attached to spout 28 rotatably supporttwo shafts 39 and 40 in a horizontal position. On the proximal end ofshaft 39 (Figs. 1 and 2) is securely mounted a cam 41 having twodiametrically opposite rollers 42 and 43 mounted on its face. Thecircumference of cam 41 is circular, excepting two 4flattened segments44 and 45 diametrically opposite each other and intermediately locatedwith respect to rollers 42 and 43. With the various movable parts in therelative positions shown in Fig. 1, it may be seen that roller 43 hasits lower half within the upper limits of slot 16, while roller 42occupies a similar position with respect to slot 17. A sprocket 46(Figs. 3 vand 4) mounted on shaft 39 opposite cam 41 serves as a driverfor said shaft and cam. Rigidly mounted on the opposite ends of shaft 40are a rocker arm 47 and a bell crank 48, each of which have holesprovided to receive studs 49 and 49 for imparting motion to an attachedsleeve 50, which is slideable on the lower end of spout 28. Rocker arm47 is designed to receive motion from cam 41 by means of a follower S1rotatably mounted on a stud 52 projecting from the side of said arm 47.Means of maintaining contact between cam 41 and follower 51 includepivotal attachment to arm 47, at a point 53, of a push rod 54 mounting aspring 55 bearing a collar 56 attached to said push rod 54. A slidebearing 57 mounted on spout 28 (Fig. l) acts as a guide for push rod 54and also serves to compress spring 55 against collar 56. The upper endof push rod 54 is suitably positioned to contact and actuate plunger 58of an electrical switch 59 attached to spout 28 to allow or, upon properoccasion, prevent operation of the elevator. The sleeve 50 which isslideable upon spout 28 has its lower end 61 within the proximal end ofone of the outlet spouts whenever said sleeve is in its lowermostposition; but when in its uppermost position said sleeve is clear ofoutlet spouts 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37.

Shaft 13 has its left end extended beyond the frame to rotatably supporttwo sprocket wheels 62 and 63 which are rigidly attached to each other.A sprocket chain 64 passes around sprockets 62 and 46 to producesimultaneous rotation of the two. A second sprocket chain 65 passes oversprocket 63 and thence to a suitable controlling and driving means whichmay include a crank driven sprocket placed at the operators station.Several prior arts disclose mechanism suited to this purpose, so it isnot deemed necessary to include a detailed description herein.

Figs. 5 and 6 show an alternate form of spout articulation. A slopingtransition 65' has its upper end formed square to connect with inletspout 66, while its lower end is circular within a vertical plane at thepoint where it enters a round hole in the side of a swinging spout 67,thereby allowing spout 67 to turn about the end of section 65. Due tothe circular shape of the connection between the parts involved, spout67 may be swung in either direction from the vertical thereby doublingthe number of outlet spouts which may be served. I am aware that thereare many ways of constructing articulated spouts shown in the priorarts, hence I do not wish to limit the general scope of my invention tothe embodiment of the two illustrative forms shown herein.

Assuming that the various parts of the mechanism are in the attitudeindicated in Fig. l, the operation may be described as follows: Grainentering the inlet spout 15, from an associated elevator, flows bygravitation through a straight uninterrupted passage, including spout2.8 and an inch or so of sleeve 50, thence into outlet spout 31 to whicha suitable pipe may be attached to convey the grain to the proper bin.As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the lower end 61 of sleeve 50 enters spout 31just far enough to close the small circumferential opening betweenspouts 28 and 31. Incidentally, with the mechanism in the attitudeshown, push rod 54 is in its lowermost position,

Vhence out of contact with switch plunger 58, allowing switch 59 toassume the on position so that by suitable connection of wires 60 and 60to a second manually controlled switch the elevator may be started orstopped at will. With switch 59 in the off position the elevator cannotbe started.

If the operator desires to connect spout 28 with outlet spout 32, it isonly necessary to rotate cam 41 one half revolution by means includingshaft 39, sprocket 46, chain 64, sprockets 62 and 63, chain 65, and asuitable driving means for chain 65, such means is not considered a partof this invention. With the mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 1,it may be seen that a slight clockwise rotation of cam 41 will causefollower 51 and its supporting arm 47 to be raised, thereby liftingsleeve 50 upwards out of engagement with spout 31, meanwhile bell crank48 cooperates with arm 47 to produce concentric lifting action on sleeve50. Coincidentally, push rod 54 is raised against spring 55 and plungerS8 to open switch 59, thus preventing starting of the elevator, so longas sleeve 50 is not positively engaged in a selected outlet spout. Withthe rotation of cam 41, roller 43 is carried upwards out of slot 16,while roller 42 remains within slot 17 throughout the half revolution ofcam 41, moving downwards during the first quarter turn, thence upwardsto the top of slot 17, as cam 41 completes its half turn. Due to theaction of roller 42 in slot 17, cam 41 and the entire assembly whichmounts it is carried to the right so that swinging spout 28 now alignswith outlet spout 32, while roller 43 is within the top of slot 18. Theflattened portion 44 of cam 41, now being under follower 51, allowsspring 55 to depress rod 54, rocker 47 and sleeve 50, thereby completingthe connection of the spout assembly with outlet 32, and also restoringswitch 59 to the on position. To move spout 2S into alignment with thenext outlet to the right it is only necessary to rotate cam 41 one halfrevolution clockwise, while a half revolution in the opposite directionswings spout 28 to the adjacent outlet on the left.

While the use of the switch 59 is desirable as a safeguard againstoperating the elevator with the disributor improperly adjusted, it is tobe understood that said switch may be eliminated without departing fromthe true spirit of my invention. The rocker arm and bell crank, as shownand described, are provided to secure smoothness of operation of thevarious parts of the device. However, these items are not indispensablebecause the slideable sleeve 50 may be lifted by a cam having itsfollower attached directly to said sleeve 50, without materiallydeparting from the broader aspects of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a distributor for grain or other granular materials: a frame; aninlet spout rigidly secured to said frame; a swinging spout movable in avertical plane articulated with said inlet spout; an axis shaft at thetop of said frame coupled to a source of power motivating said swingingspout; at the bottom of said frame, a base ymember consisting of anarcuate upper margin with its center of curvature in said axis shaft anda plurality of slots spaced at constant angular magnitude to each otherin said arcuate margin and directed radially outward from the said axisshaft; a plurality of outlet spouts secured to the base member withtheir longitudinal center lines of the same angular magnitude as thoseof the cooperating slots in said base member; a slideable sleevepositioned on the lower end of said swinging spout sldeably engaging inthe selected outlet spout; a cam positioned on the lower end of theswinging spout engaging and disengaging the slideable sleeve and theselected outlet spout, said cam having two flattened diametricallyopposite sides; two diametrically opposite rollers spaced on said camintermediate of the flattened sides thereof to engage in successiveslots along the arcuate margin of the base mernber aligning the swingingspout and slideable sleeve with the selected outlet spout; a switchoperated by said cam controlling the source of supply of grain orgranular material; and a chain motivating the cam from and synchronizingit with the axis shaft and the swinging spout.

2. In a spout distributor for delivering grain, seeds or granules fromelevating equipment at a level above the receptacles or compartments forreceiving the same: a supporting frame; an inlet spout of rectangularcross section, held in vertical position by brackets at the top of thesupporting frame and having its lower end of the forward side ofsegmental cylindrical shape; an axis shaft for a swinging spout; aswinging spout of substantially the same cross section as the verticalinlet spout, having its upward forward side formed into a segmentalcylin- F drical section adapted to encompass and swing about thecylindrical surface of the lower segment of the vertical inlet spout,pivotally lmounted on its axis shaft so that the curvature of the uppersegmental section of said swinging spout is common with the curvature onthe forward side at the lower end of the vertical inlet spout; aplurality of outlets, leading to separate, selectively, compartments orreceptacles, arranged iu an arc, said arc of the plurality of outletshaving a common radius from the axis shaft of the swinging spout; meansfor, selectively, locking the swinging spout to a predetermined outletor moving the same from one outlet to another; an adjustable attachedsleeve segment at the bottom of the swinging spout, provided withmechanically synchronized means, selectively, for raising the samesuticiently to clear the delivery outlets during the moving of theswinging spout or lowering the same to seal against leakage of thegrain, seed or granules from between the lower end of the swinging spoutand the outlet during the time that the swinging spout is locked inposition for delivery of grain, seed or granules through the selectedoutlet.

3. In spout distributing equipment for controlling the delivery ofgrain, seed or granules by gravity flow from an upper level toreceptacles at a lower level: a supporting frame; gular cross section,having a lower end of the forward side of segmental cylindrical shape ofa given curvature to a com-mon axis; a shaft for the pivotal axismounting of a'swinging spout; a swinging spout, the upper end of whichis of substantially the same cross section as the vertical inlet spoutformed into a segmental cylindrical portion adapted to encompass andswinging about the cylindrical surface of the lower portion of thevertical inlet spout on the shaft forming its axis; a plurality ofoutlets so arranged with reference to each other as to form an arc withthe swinging spout serving as a common radius; an arc shaped plateprovided with a plurality of locking notches spaced and arranged withreference to each other with like relation as that of the deliveryoutlets; a telescoping segment sleeve at the bottom of the swingingspout so adjustable, selectively, to clear the delivery outlets duringthe movement of the swinging spout or to lower into position, to sealagainst leakage between the swinging spout and the delivery outlet ofgrain, seed or other granules at a time when the swinging spout islocked in position for delivery of seed, grain or granules by gravitythrough a predetermined outlet; mechanical means for rotating theswinging spout on its axis from one delivery outlet to another; lockingmeans connected to the lower portion of the swinging spout consisting ofa cam, two rollers upon the cam adapted to enter the locking slots; alever pivotally connected with the telescoping sleeve at the bottom ofthe swinging spout; a roller on said lever contacting the cam adapted toraise and lower the telescoping sleeve section at the bottom of theswinging spout; mechanical power means for rotating the cam; and switchcontrolling the supply of the grain, seed or granules being distributed.

4. In equipment for delivery of grain, seed or granules from a higherlevel by gravity to two or more receptacles at a lower level: asupporting frame; a substantially vertical inlet pipe secured at the topof the supporting frame, said inlet pipe angling at its lower end andshaped into a circle Within a vertical plane forming an axle for aswinging spout; a swinging spout having a round hole at its upper end bywhich it is mounted on the circular end of the inlet pipe within avertical plane; an adjustable attached sleeve segment at the bottom ofthe swinging spout; and mechanical means synchronizing the adjustableattached sleeve segment and the swinging of the swinging spout to seatthe outlet end of said spout to a selected receptacle for delivery ofgrain, seed or granules from the swinging spout.

5. In equipment for Idelivery of grain, seed or granules from a higherlevel by gravity to two or more receptacles at a lower level; asupporting frame; a substantially vertical inlet spout secured at thetop of the supporting frame, said inlet spout angling at its lower endand shaped into a circle within a vertical plane so as to form an axlefor a swinging spout; a swinging spout mounted on the lower end of aninlet spout acting as its axle; a plurality of outlets near the bottomof the frame arranged with reference to each other in an arc of acurvature corresponding to that provided by the swinging spout acting asa radius; a plurality of locking notches having a curvature, the commonradius of which would be measured a substantially vertical inlet spoutof rectan-A from'the axis of the swinging pipe; mechanically syn'-chronized means for raising the adjustable sleeve to clear the outletsduring the swinging of the swinging pipe or, selectively, lowering thesame and thereby sealing the space between the lower end of the swingingpipe and its outlet during the flow by gravity of the grain, seed orgranules through the inlet, swinging spout and the outlet; and cam andlever adjusting means attached to the swinging spout adapted to raiseand lower the adjustable sleeve to selectively permit the swing of theswinging spout, or locking of the same to a selected outlet.

6. In a distributor for grain or other granular materials: a frame; aninlet spout rigidly secured to said frame; a swinging spout movable in avertical plane articulated with said inlet spout; an axis shaft at thetop of said frame coupled to a source of power motivating said swingingspout; at the bottom of said frame, a base member consisting of anarcuate upper margin with its center of curvature in said axis shaft anda plurality of slots spaced at constant angular magnitude to each otherin said arcuate margin and directed radially -outward from the said axisshaft; a plurality of outlet spouts secured to the base member withtheir longitudinal center lines of the same angular magnitude as thoseof the cooperating slots intsaid base member; a slideable sleevepositioned on the lower end of said swinging spout slideably engaging inthe selected outlet spout; a cam positioned on the lower end of theswinging spout engaging and disengaging the slideable sleeve and theselected outlet spout, said cam having two attened diametricallyopposite sides; two diametrically opposite rollers spaced on said camintermediate of the flattened sides thereof to engage in successiveslots along the arcuate margin of the base member aligning the swingingspout and slideable sleeve with the selected outlet spout; and a meansof motivating said cam.

7. In a distributor for grain or other granular materials: a frame; aninlet spout rigidly secured to said frame; a swinging spout movable in avertical plane articulated with said inlet spout; an axis shaft at thetop of said frame coupled to a source of power motivating said swingingspout; at the bottom of said frame, a base member consisting of anarcuate margin and directed radially outward from the said axis shaft; aplurality of outlet spouts secured to the base member with theirlongitudinal center lines of the same angular magnitude as those of thecooperating slots in said base member; a slideable sleeve positioned onthe lower end of said swinging spout slideably engaging in the selectedoutlet spout; a cam positioned on the lower end of the swinging spoutengaging and disengaging the slideable sleeve and the selected outletspout. said cam having two flattened diametrically opposite sides; twodiametrically opposite rollers spaced on said cam intermediate of theflattened sides thereof to engage in successive slots along the arcuatemargin of the base member aligning the swinging spout and slideablesleeve with the selected outlet spout; and mechanical means motivatingthe cam from and synchronizing it with the swinging spout.

8. In a distributor for grain or other granular materials: a frame; aninlet spout rigidly secured to said frame; a swinging spout movable in avertical plane articulated with said inlet spout; an axis shaft at thetop of said frame coupled to a source of power motivating said swingingspout; at the bottom of said frame, a base member consisting of anarcuate upper margin with its center of curvature in said axis shaft anda plurality of slots spaced at constant angular magnitude to each otherin said arcuate margin and directed radially outward from the said axisshaft; a plurality of outlet spouts secured to the base member withtheir longitudinal center lines of the same angular magnitude as thoseof the cooperating slots in said base member; a slideable sleevepositioned on the lower end of said swinging spout slideably engaging inthe selected outlet spout; a cam positioned on the lower end of theswinging spout engaging and disengaging the slideable sleeve and theselected outlet spout; and

mechanical means synchronizing the cam, the swinging spout and theslideable sleeve on said swinging spout,

selectively, to engage or disengage the selected outlet spout.

9. In a distributor for grain or other granular materials: a rigidlysecured inlet spout; a swinging spout movable in a vertical planearticulated with said inlet spout; a source of power motivating saidswinging spout; a base, positioned below the swinging spout, with anarcuate upper margin congured to the swing of the swinging spout, saidarcuate upper margin having :1 plurality of slots therein spaced atconstant angular magnitude to each other; a plurality of outlet spoutssecured to the base with their longitudinal center lines of the sameangular magnitude as those of the cooperating slots in said base; aslideable sleeve positioned on the outlet end of said swinging spoutadapted to slideably engage the selected outlet spout; a double lift camwith two diametrically opposite rollers spaced thereon in line with thelifts adapted to engage in successive slots in the arcuate upper marginof the base, said cam engaging and disengaging the slideable sleeve andthe selected Outlet spout; and mechanical means motivating andsynchronizing the swinging spout, slideable sleeve and cam, selectively,engaging or disengaging the selected outlet spout.

10. In a distributor for grain or other granular materials: a frame; aninlet spout rigidly secured to said frame; a swinging spout movable in avertical plane articulated with said inlet spout; an axis shaft at thetop of said frame coupled to a source of power motivating said swingingspout; at the bottom of said frame, a base member consisting of anarcuate upper margin with its center of curvature in said axis shaft anda plurality of slots spaced at constant angular magnitude to each otherin said arcuate margin and directed radially outward from the said axisshaft; a plurality of outlet spouts secured to the base member withtheir longitudinal center lines of the same angular magnitude as thoseof the cooperating slots in said base member; a slideable sleevepositioned on the lower end of said swinging spout slideably engaging inthe selected outlet spout; a cam positioned on the lower end of theswinging spout engaging and disenga'ging the slideable sleeve and theselected outlet spout, said cam having two flattened diametricallyopposite sides; two diametrically opposite rollers spaced on said camintermediate of the flattened sides thereof to engage in successiveslots along the arcuate margin of the base member aligning the swingingspout and slideable sleeve with the selected outlet spout; mechanicalmeans synchronizing said swinging spout, slideable sleeve and cam toautomatically engage or disengage, selectively, the swinging spout andslideable sleeve with the selected outlet spout; and a means ofmotivating said cam.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

